U.S. patent number 8,275,311 [Application Number 12/327,615] was granted by the patent office on 2012-09-25 for method in connection with a wrist diving computer and a wrist diving computer system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Suunto Oy. Invention is credited to Erik Lindman.
United States Patent |
8,275,311 |
Lindman |
September 25, 2012 |
Method in connection with a wrist diving computer and a wrist
diving computer system
Abstract
The invention relates to a method and system in connection with
a wristop diving computer (1). According to the method, at least
the pressure of a gas bottle (2) is measured and the pressure data
is transmitted under water using a low first frequency f1 to a
wristop computer (1). According to the invention, on the surface of
the water a second frequency f2, higher than the first frequency
f1, is used for two-way telecommunications between the gas bottle
(2) and the wristop computer (1).
Inventors: |
Lindman; Erik (Espoo,
FI) |
Assignee: |
Suunto Oy (Vantaa,
FI)
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Family
ID: |
40097380 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/327,615 |
Filed: |
December 3, 2008 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20100130123 A1 |
May 27, 2010 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Nov 26, 2008 [FI] |
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20086136 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/40;
340/13.33; 455/77 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63C
11/22 (20130101); B63C 2011/021 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04B
13/02 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;455/40,41.1,41.2,77,95,100,120,125,151.2,344 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Williams; Howard
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A method in connection with a wristop diving computer for use by
a diver, the method including the steps of: measuring at least the
pressure of a gas-bottle; transmitting the pressure data under
water at a low first frequency f1 to the wristop computer; and
using on the surface of the water a second frequency f2 that is
higher than the first frequency f1 for two-way telecommunications
between the gas bottle and the wristop computer.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the frequency is
selected on the basis of the ambient pressure.
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the frequency is
selected on the basis of resistivity data.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the frequency is
selected on the basis of resistivity data.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second frequency is
selected, if its presence is detected.
6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the low frequency f1 is
damped, if high-frequency f2 traffic is detected.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the low frequency f1 is
damped, if high-frequency f2 traffic is detected.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein high-frequency
communication is permitted between two wristop computers.
9. The method according to claim 1, wherein high-frequency
communication is used between the gas bottle or the wristop
computer, and a peripheral device.
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the peripheral device
is a computer or a mobile station.
11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of
measuring heart rate data of the diver.
12. A wristop diving computer system configured for operation above
and below the surface of a body of water, the system comprising: a
central unit; a telecommunications element operably coupled to the
central unit, the telecommunications element configured to receive
a first electromagnetic frequency f1 at least when below the
surface of the water; and a telecommunications transceiver operably
coupled to the central unit and configured to operate at a second
frequency f2, higher than the first frequency f1, in two
directions, particularly for telecommunications taking place above
water.
13. The system according to claim 12, further comprising a pressure
sensor coupled to the central unit, wherein the central unit is
configured to change between the first and second frequencies based
upon ambient pressure.
14. The system according to claim 12, further comprising a
conductivity sensor coupled to the central unit, wherein the
central unit is configured to change between the first and second
frequencies based upon the resistivity of the communication
medium.
15. The system according to claim 12 wherein the control unit is
configured to detect frequency and, upon sensing the second
frequency, changing from operating under the first frequency to
operating under the second frequency.
16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the central unit is
configured to dampen the low frequency f1, if high-frequency f2
traffic is detected.
17. The system according to claim 12, wherein the central unit is
configured to dampen the low frequency f1, if high-frequency f2
traffic is detected.
18. The system according to claim 12, wherein the central unit is
configured to permit high-frequency communication f2 between two
wristop computers.
19. The system according to claim 12, further comprising a
telecommunications element coupled to the gas bottle, and wherein
the system is configured to provide it high-frequency communication
f2 between the telecommunications element of the gas bottle or
wristop computer and a peripheral device.
20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the peripheral device
is a computer or a mobile station.
21. The system of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first and
second frequencies further include a transmitted signal
representative of heart rate data.
22. A telecommunications device for communicating the pressure
within at least one gas bottle above or below the surface of a body
of water, the device comprising: a central unit; a
telecommunications element operably coupled to the central unit,
the telecommunications element configured to transmitting a first
frequency f1 at least when below the surface of the water; and a
telecommunications transceiver operably coupled to the central unit
and configured to operate at a second frequency f2, higher than the
first frequency f1, in two directions, particularly for
telecommunications taking place above water.
23. The device according to claim 22, further comprising a pressure
sensor coupled to the central unit, wherein the central unit is
configured to change between the first and second frequencies based
upon ambient pressure.
24. The device according to claim 22, further comprising a
conductivity sensor coupled to the central unit, wherein the
central unit is configured to change between the first and second
frequencies based upon the resistivity of the communication
medium.
25. The device according to claim 22, wherein the control unit is
configured to detect frequency and, upon sensing the second
frequency, changing from operating under the first frequency to
operating under the second frequency.
26. The device according to claim 22, wherein the central unit is
configured to dampen the low frequency f1, if high-frequency f2
traffic is detected.
27. The device according to claim 22, wherein the central unit is
configured to permit high-frequency communication f2 between two
wristop computers.
28. The device of claim 22, wherein at least one of the first and
second frequencies further include a transmitted signal
representative of heart rate data.
Description
The present invention relates to a method, according to the
preamble of claim 1, in connection with a wristop diving
computer.
The invention also relates to a wristop diving-computer system.
Thus, the invention relates to a device for displaying the
sufficiency of respiratory air in compressed-gas apparatuses, such
as diving apparatuses. Such devices are used by divers and
firemen.
Under water, it is necessary to use in telecommunications a low
frequency, for example, of 5.3 kHz, which in diving applications
will travel in water the necessary distance of 1-2 m from a gas
bottle to a wristop computer. In the technology of the sector, in
addition to radio-frequency data transfer, the terms inductive, or
magnetic-pulse transmission are used.
Wireless bottle-pressure data transfer is disclosed in, among
others, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,392,771 and 5,738,092 and EP patent
0550649. The same technology is also disclosed in FI patent 96380.
Data-transfer technology for implementing wireless bottle-pressure
data transfer is also disclosed in patent application FI
20031873.
It is not advantageous to transfer large amounts of data rapidly
using a low-frequency electromagnetic signal. In addition, in a
typical solution, the magnetic-pulse transmission technique
consumes a great deal of power.
A drawback of the prior art described in the US publications is
that long bit strings cannot be transferred rapidly using low
power. In order to save power, the data must be transmitted
infrequently, which in turn leads to a reduction in the real-time
nature of the bottle-pressure display.
The technology disclosed in the aforementioned Finnish publication
permits a reasonably rapid data transfer at a low current
consumption, which can be repeated frequently without using a great
deal of energy. A drawback with this technology is that it does not
permit a very large number of identifiers, which fully individuate
all the transmitters, as disclosed in EP publication 0550648. The
number of identifiers according to the FI publications is large,
but not, however, fully individuating, as required when measuring a
respiratory gas.
In the applicant's present solution, the identifier selected by the
user is checked and compared with the identifiers of the other
users, in order to be certain that in a diving situation, for
example, there is no confusion between the identifiers. If the
bottle identifier must be changed, the user must do this manually.
Communication to the transmission component is handled clumsily, by
manually manipulating the measured pressure.
The present invention is intended to eliminate the defects of the
state of the art disclosed above and for this purpose create an
entirely new type of solution.
The invention is based on using two different data-transfer
frequencies, according to whether one is on or below the surface of
the water.
The identifiers of the lower frequency are preferably set with the
aid of the higher frequency.
According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, a pressure
detector is used for the change of frequency.
According to a second preferred embodiment of the invention, a
resistivity sensor is used for the change of frequency.
According to a third preferred embodiment of the invention,
detection of the second frequency is used for the change of
frequency.
More specifically, the method according to the invention is
characterized by what is stated in the characterizing portion of
claim 1.
For its part, the system according to the invention is
characterized by what is stated in the characterizing portions of
claims 8 and 15.
Considerable advantages are gained with the aid of the invention.
By using two frequencies, an optimal situation is achieved in terms
of data transfer. Checking operations, which require a great deal
of information, to ensure and determine the correct wristop
computer/bottle pair, can be implemented above water. By means of a
higher frequency, it is easy to implement the data transfer to be
two-way, so that the power consumption particularly in the wristop
computer will remain reasonable.
Using the existing technology, for example, the implementation of
multi-gas diving using several transmitters is possible, but its
practical arrangement is difficult. The invention permits wireless
real-time measurement of the sufficiency of respiratory gases for
all gases in multi-gas diving.
In the following, the invention is examined with the aid of
examples of applications according to the accompanying
drawings.
FIG. 1 shows schematically the environment according to the prior
art, to which the invention can be applied.
FIG. 2 shows schematically a system assembly according to the
invention.
FIG. 3 shows a wristop-computer component according to the
invention.
FIGS. 4a and 4b show pulse diagrams of one possibility of
implementing data communications in the solution according to the
invention.
According to FIG. 1, during a dive the diver 4 has available a
telecommunications link using the frequency f1 between the
telecommunications unit 3 of the pressure bottle 2 and the wristop
computer 1. Because during a dive the transfer path is water, the
frequency f1 is typically 5.3 kHz, so that the electromagnetic
energy will travel as far as possible. In this situation, the data
traffic is generally one-way, and from the telecommunications unit
of the gas bottle 2 to the wristop computer. For divers 4, who move
typically in pairs but also in groups, to receive data reliably on
the pressure in only their own bottle 2, it must be ensured
diver-specifically 4 that the wristop computer 1 and the
corresponding gas bottle 4 including its telecommunication unit
form an unequivocal pair. This is essential, because if the wristop
computer 1 receives data from the telecommunications unit 3 of the
gas bottle 2 of a neighbouring diver, erroneous interpretations of
the amount of gas available can arise. In the present application,
the term low frequency refers to a frequency of less than 1
MHz.
According to FIG. 2, a second, higher frequency f2, the faster
transfer of which permits many new checks improving safety to be
made, is used in the invention, for the aforementioned unequivocal
linking of the wristop computer 1 and the gas bottle 2 to each
other. Thus, the frequency f2 is used when air is the medium
between the gas bottle 2 and the wristop computer 1. With the aid
of data-transfer protocols that are, as such, known, the connection
above water can be made two-way at the above-water frequency f2, in
which case many check routines can be implemented between the
wristop computer 1 and the gas-bottle unit, to ensure the
unequivocalness of the wristop computer 1/gas bottle 2 pair. The
term high frequency f2 refers in the invention to a frequency
higher than 1 MHz.
According to FIG. 3, the wristop computer 1 comprises, among other
things, a central unit 5 with a low-frequency f1 receiver 6
connected to it, in which, within the scope of the invention, there
can also be a transmitter unit. According to the invention, the
wristop computer 1, like the telecommunications unit 3 of the
bottle unit 2 also correspondingly shown in FIG. 2, is equipped
with a two-way transceiver 7, which is switched on to operate after
a dive, for example, by means of a pressure or conductivity sensor
of the wristop computer.
The block diagram according to FIG. 3 is close to the block diagram
according to the invention of the gas-bottle transmitter, with the
difference, however, that instead of the low-frequency f1 receiver
element 6, in the gas-bottle transmitter 3 there is a low-frequency
transmitter element.
The frequency f2 can be, for example, the 2.45 GHz reserved for the
ANT or Bluetooth protocol. Both of the aforementioned protocols are
suitable for implementing a transceiver 12, but the ANT protocol is
particularly advantageous on account of its low power consumption.
Due especially to the wristop computer 1, a low power consumption
is a very critical factor, so that the diver's safety will not be
endangered due to the battery emptying.
With the aid of the invention, the gas-bottle transmitter 3 can be
individuated, for example, by means of a series number. The bottle
transmitter's 3 information can be stored in the memory of the
wristop receiver (wristop computer) 1. Operating purposes, for
example for multi-gas situations, can also be set for the bottle
transmitter 3, in which case the system can be equipped with a
separate transmitter 3 for a different respiratory gas. Markings on
the case of the transmitter 3, such as a series number and a
separate mark, number, or colour code on the case of the
transmitter, can be combined with this information packet, to
ensure the installation of the correct transmitter 3 on the correct
respiratory-gas tank 2. The memory of the transmitter 3 can contain
information on the series number, case markings, operating data for
the transmitter, for example, the number of operating hours, and
the number of operating hours after a battery change. It can also
be advantageous to record temperature data in the memory of the
transmitter 3. Naturally, monitoring of respiratory-gas pressure
can also be recorded in the transmitter 3, though the custom has
been for these data to be recorded in the receiver 1. All the data
in the memory can easily be queried and transmitted with the aid of
fast high-frequency radio traffic, when the respiratory-gas
operation is not switched on, for example, before or after
diving.
In the solution according to the invention, the existing Vytec-type
inductive data transfer is used under water, and on the surface
before diving or in some other situation that breaks the
connection, high-frequency two-way traffic permitting a large
amount of data to be transmitted energy-economically is used in
addition.
The following presents a summary of the features of the
invention:
1. The actual low-frequency (f1) data transfer operates in water
and in firefighting situations.
2. It is possible (on the surface or before a situation) to select
and set the low-frequency transmission (f1) channel (code) using
two-way high-frequency communication f2. The present code-changing
commands made using pressure can be omitted.
3. On the ANT-protocol side, identifiers that fully identify the
gas-bottle transmitters 3 can be used. Under water, it is possible
to use the low-frequency (f1) channel systems presently in
operation can be used, which has proven very good compared to
bit-string data transfer, which, due to its infrequent update
frequency, detracts from the real-time nature of the
measurement.
4. Using the ANT frequency, it is possible to communicate with
other device users (for example, those in a boat or a firefighting
group) and to set automatically or semiautomatically specific
low-frequency channels for all of them, for the frequency f1. The
high frequency f2 is required for range and the amount of data
transfer, using a low-frequency f2 system, for example, at 5 kHz,
this operation will not succeed.
5. When the high-frequency connection returns again, larger amounts
of other data can also be transferred from the bottle-pressure
transmitter and a dive profile, for example, can be attached. For
example, it may be possible to obtain the temperature better from
the transmitter than from the wrist, at least in fires. Battery
voltage can be one of the data transferred using the high frequency
f2, as can respiratory frequency and amount.
6. The invention permits a sensible implementation for gas changes,
using several transmitters 3, as we automate the coding over
several transmitters on the surface.
7. The invention can further be combined with the heart-rate data,
a channel be set for this purpose using the device and can then
operate at least under a dry suit.
The low-frequency f1 (e.g., Vytec) data-transfer system of FIG. 1
operates, for example, as follows:
In the transmitter 3 there is a pressure sensor, which has an
analog voltage output. The pressure signal is amplified and
converted to digital form. The processor processes the pressure
information into a time-interval format. In addition, on the basis
of the memory information, the processor creates two detection time
intervals. The processor commands the transmitter circuit to
transmit magnetic pulses. The resonance frequency in the pulses is
5.3 kHz and the pulses themselves do not contain information.
The pulse totality is transmitted in such a way that each totality
consists of one pressure time interval and two detection time
intervals.
The codes are rounded off to integers and 40 different codes are
permitted in a typical application.
According to FIG. 4a, the transmitted signal can comprise, for
example, 2 repeating time periods, time period t1 and time period
t2, of which time period t1 contains the actual measured
information, either directly as the length of the time period, or
proportional to this length. In heart-rate-measurement
applications, t1 is either directly the time between heartbeats, or
a time proportional to it. For example, in a pressure-measuring
application, t1 can also be a time period proportional to the
pressure (oxygen-bottle pressure, or blood pressure). The time
period t2, for its part, contains the identifier code of the
signal, a codeword 15, and a starting bit 10, which, according to
the invention, is a pulse containing power, with a digital value of
1.
After this follows the desired number of code pulses (bits) as the
codeword 15. The pulse 11 is the second and the pulse 12 the eighth
bit in the codeword 15 in question. The number of code bits
(=codeword length) can naturally be greater or smaller, however,
the number of bits in the codeword 15 typically varies between 4
and 128. Thus, during the pulses 11 and 12, the transmission power
of the transmitter is on and during the time between these 1-bits
the transmission power is not used.
Thus, in the solution of FIG. 4a, in an eight-bit codeword the
transmission power is on for 25% of the duration of the code. In
the case of power consumption, the same principle naturally holds
for the time period t1 between the pulses 10 and 12, which
represents analog data. Thus, transmission power is not consumed at
all during the time interval t1. Thus, t1 can contain, as an analog
value, information on, for example, heart rate, the interval
between heartbeats, gas-bottle pressure, pedalling cadence, blood
pressure, or speed. Thus, at the receiver end, t1 is converted into
information depicting the variable being measured, be defining the
time interval t1 as an analog variable, for example, with the aid
of a gate circuit, during the time between the pulses 10 and
12.
In FIG. 4a, the first time periods t1 and t2 are followed by second
time periods t1' and t2, of which t1' is longer than the time
period t1.
FIG. 4b, for its part, shows a second alternative of the solution
according to the invention. In this case, three bits in a 1 state,
which depict the pulses 11, 12, and 13, are used in the time period
t2. In the solution of FIG. 2b, during the codeword 15, the
transmission power is on for 37.5% of the duration of the
codeword.
In measurement, the pressure data typically has values in the range
10-360 bar.
In measurement, it is also possible to use the following values
depicting special situations.
5 bar=transmitter processor has measured a low battery voltage, the
symbol `LOBT` is shown on the display of the wristop computer
1.
7 bar=outside the measurement range, e.g., more than 360 bar, is
shown on the display.
365 bar=tank empty, pressure in the range 0-9.99, 0 bar is shown on
the display when diving and the code is reset on the surface,
because the tank is empty.
The transmitter switches off, if the tank is empty, or the pressure
does not change (bottle not in use). The transmitter switches on
again when the pressure changes and if the pressure is more than 15
bar. If switching on again takes place with an empty tank, the
transmitter should be recoded.
A change of frequency from the first frequency f1 to the second
frequency f2 and vice versa can take place, for example, with the
aid of a pressure switch, in which case an increase in pressure
above a specific limit will change the operation to the first,
lower frequency f1. An increase in pressure over the same limit
correspondingly changes the operation back to the second frequency
range f2.
Alternatively, in the wristop computer there can be a resistivity
sensor, a drop in the measurement value of which to below a
predefined limit value can correspondingly change the operation to
the first, lower frequency f1. An increase in resistivity above the
same limit value correspondingly changes the operation back to the
second frequency range f2.
The frequency selection can also be based on the detection of
frequency. If, at the diving location, the higher
telecommunications frequency f2 is present, for example, for
maintenance measures, the wristop computer can detect that it is on
the surface purely from the presence of the frequency in question,
and start communication with the gas bottle at the frequency f2.
Naturally, combinations of all of the aforementioned ways are
possible.
In the gas-bottle part 2, it is possible to keep both frequencies
f1 and f2 switched on whenever pressure is being measured in the
bottle. The bottle part 2 need not known if it is in water and the
different-frequency radio circuits or transmitter circuits are, in
this sense, independent of each other. On the other hand, the
bottle part 2 can be set to transmit at the high frequency f2 only
if the wristop computer 1 has requested this. According to the
invention, a protocol can also be created for the system, which
switches off the low-frequency transmission f1 when there is
outgoing communication at the high frequency, so that disturbances,
for example inside the device, are eliminated in this case. The
bottle part 2 can listen to the high-frequency channel f2 at all
times, and at least at times when the low-frequency transmission f1
is not in use it will be easy to receive the high frequency f2
coming from the wristop computer 1. Indeed, the wristop computer 1
is also able to monitor these silent windows from the low-frequency
transmission f1, so that it will get its message timed in such a
way that it will reach its destination.
The wristop computer 1 also has a series number. The gas-bottle
unit 2 can also be set to accept high-frequency instructions from a
specific wristop device. In that case, for example, the removal of
the battery can wipe out this setting.
According to the invention, the higher frequency f2 can be used by
both the bottle-pressure units 2, 3 and the diving computer 1, the
data in the memories can also be transferred to a computer or, for
example, mobile telephone for further processing and/or collecting
statistics.
At the higher frequency f2, it is possible not only to make
diving-gas data but especially to set low-frequency identifiers for
the diving computer 1 and the bottle-pressure transmitter 3, not
only from the diving computer 1, but also, for example, from a
computer. According to the invention, a property can be added to
the program controlling the diving computers 1 and their data
transfer, by means of which it is possible from the computer to
set, at the frequency f2, both the diving computers 1 and the
bottle-pressure transmitters 3 ready for diving when making the
diving plan. The same can naturally also be applied to a mobile
station.
* * * * *